Latest news with #ArmyCadets
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump attacks past US policy in speech to new Army officers
President Donald Trump lambasted previous US leaders and policies in a campaign-style speech Saturday to graduating Army officers, underscoring his determination to remold the apolitical military to his right-wing ideology. The address to newly minted junior officers at the famed West Point academy in New York featured the annual event's traditional shout-outs to top students, jokes, and praise for the cadets' sporting achievements. However, the 78-year-old Republican, who has used the first four months of his second term to attack critics and concentrate power in the White House, quickly turned to edgier topics. The blistering rhetoric got only muted applause from the rows of grey-uniformed cadets. Justifying his isolationist policies and mistrust of historic US alliances, Trump said that for at least two decades, US leaders have "dragged our military into missions…, wasting our time, money and souls." Troops were "led by leaders who didn't have a clue in distant lands." Trump also focused on his decision to rid the military of so-called DEI policies, which are meant to encourage participation by racial and sexual minorities in the ranks, including women. The drive to rid the armed forces of what Trump derides as "woke" initiatives has also seen the removal from military academy bookshelves of scores of books that cover the painful US history of racism. Trump told graduating cadets that his predecessors had been "abusing our soldiers with absurd ideological experiments." "They subjected the armed forces to all manner of social projects and political causes while leaving our borders undefended," he said. "All of that's ended. You know that," Trump said. "They're not even allowed to think about it anymore." "The job of the US armed forces is not to host drag shows," he said. "The military's job is to dominate any foe, to annihilate any threat to America, anywhere." - Criticism of US allies - Trump has successfully channeled disillusionment among Americans after the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq triggered by the September 11, 2001, attacks. He vowed at West Point that the United States will not attempt to "spread democracy... at the point of a gun." But his post-9/11-era reset also includes unprecedented scorn for US allies in Europe and Asia, which he again said on Saturday had been cheating the United States. "They don't rip us off anymore," he boasted. Adding to the partisan tone of the speech, Trump wore one of his red election campaign hats throughout and talked up his November victory as a "great mandate" which "gives us the right to do what we want to do." Army officers are not allowed to engage in politics and even when Trump paused for applause, the clapping from the cadets was often sporadic. Those invited to speak briefly at Trump's podium kept their messages strictly personal -- not so much as referring to the president. However, the refashioning of the Pentagon, led by Trump's ultra-loyal defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has caused open unease in some quarters. Graham Parsons, a professor of philosophy at West Point, resigned this month, saying that the academy had "abandoned its core principles" to comply with White House ideological demands and that he was "ashamed." New teaching guidelines on shunning discussion of racism or sexism, while insisting on promoting the idea of America as a constant force for good, "were brazen demands to indoctrinate, not educate," Parsons wrote in The New York Times. sms/dw
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Family of Australian man feared dead in Ukraine hopeful Caleb List is alive
The family of a Queensland man feared killed fighting in Ukraine says they are in shock and holding onto hope he is alive. Caleb List, 25, of Gladstone, was part of the Ukrainian foreign legion, a Ukrainian ground forces military unit of international volunteers. He joined the unit in 2022 and sources have told the ABC he is believed to have died last month during heavy fighting in the Kharkiv region. His uncle, Michael Connolly, said he was fulfilling his dream to be a soldier. "He'd always wanted to be a soldier." He said so far, the family have not had any confirmation about his remains and whether they had been found. "When they can't produce anything of that nature, then there's always hope," Mr Connolly said. He said previously Mr List had been in regular contact with both his parents, but communication was difficult at times. "From the communication that was received he was always happy and healthy and well." Mr Connolly said about 16 months after he first went to Ukraine in 2022, his nephew returned to Australia to visit his family. "We were not aware that he was going to re-enlist … so it was a bit of a surprise," he said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said consular assistance was being provided to Mr List's family. The advice remains for people not to travel to Ukraine. Mr Connolly described his nephew as a "gentle soul" who would help anyone in need. He said Mr List was passionate about the army and had spent a lot of his young life involved in the army cadets. "He would have lived there if he was possibly able to, his fascination with the armed forces was from a young age," Mr Connolly said. Mr List had previously been rejected to serve in the Australian Army. "It's really hard to speak on his behalf with regards to how and why he did it [fighting in Ukraine]," Mr Connolly said. "His desire to be a soldier was very strong and he wanted to help and make a difference. "From my observation as his uncle, I just saw a young man who lit up whenever he was doing anything with the soldiering side of life." Mr Connolly said as a young child, Mr List was energetic, loved sports and was hands-on. "He was always fixing things on his father's property. He was brought up in the country," he said. Mr Connolly said Mr List spent most of his childhood and adult life in the Gladstone region. Mr List previously worked as a trade assistant at Queensland's Yarwun refinery. Mr Connolly urged the public not to make a value judgement about Mr List. "We pray that he will come back home. "It's very hard to speak about him in past tense because in my mind, he's not — he's not gone."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Somerset teenager wants a bionic arm to get into military
A 17-year-old girl is fundraising for a bionic arm so that she can try and get accepted for military servicePaige Cox from Wivielscombe in Somerset was born without a right hand and enjoys playing cricket and is a member of her local army cadet group. Ms Cox has been deferred by the military once before so is now fundraising for a bionic arm. While it will not guarantee her a military career, it will increase her chances according to her family. "It would make daily tasks easier. I often struggle with quite a few things. Having it would take a pressure off," Ms Cox said. As an army cadet, she applied to be in the military, but was rejected for having one said she "didn't feel great" about the rejection, so she decided to try and get a bionic arm."It would make holding weapons easier, would make exercises easier, setting up tents, stuff like that," Ms Cox Cox' dad John Cox, said: "I'm ex-military myself. It was disappointing that they wouldn't entertain the idea of more administrative roles, it was a straight no. I thought they could have been a bit more progressive."He added that he thought it was "amazing" that his daughter had decided to raise funds for a bionic arm.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Parade commemorates 280 years since Battle of Fontenoy
A parade in Carlisle has commemorated 280 years since the Battle of Fontenoy. The parade, which was attended by members of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, the Army Cadets, and local veterans, took place in Carlisle on Sunday, May 11, and saw participants march from Carlisle Castle to Carlisle Cathedral, where a service took place. The parade commemorated the involvement of the 34th Regiment of Foot in the Battle of Fontenoy that took place on the 11th of May 1745. The 34th Regiment of Foot would eventually become the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. The battle, which took place nearly three centuries ago, took place on May 11, 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession and saw a French army of 50,000 under Marshal Saxe defeat a force led by the Duke of Cumberland. Writing on social media, Carlisle Police, who oversaw the parade, said: "Today Carlisle's Neighbourhood Policing Team were in the city centre to assist with the Fontenoy Parade. "The parade was well attended by members of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, the Army Cadets, local veterans, and members of the public taking part in the march from the castle for a service at the cathedral. "Thank you to everyone who attended, and we hope you enjoyed the warm weather."
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
Lincoln cadet leader David Thorne to be sentenced for raping schoolgirl
Army cadet leader to be sentenced for raping girl 8 minutes ago Share Save Share Save Geograph/Richard Croft David Thorne admitted eight sex offences and is due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 13 June An army cadet leader is to be sentenced next month for raping a schoolgirl after driving to the Grantham area to have sex with her. David Thorne had previously pleaded guilty to eight sexual offences, including five rape charges on a child aged under 13 and three offences of assault by penetration on the same victim, all of which happened on three dates in December 2023. The 22-year-old admitted sexual contact had taken place but he claimed the girl had told him she was 17 years old. Dismissing his claim at Lincoln Crown Court, Judge Simon Hirst said he had "no hesitation" in accepting the victim's account of events and told Thorne he would be sentenced on 13 June. Lincoln Crown Court heard Thorne, of New Crescent, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln, met his young victim multiple times, driving from his home to pick her up from the Grantham area. Giving evidence in court, the girl insisted she told the defendant her real age and said it was Thorne who claimed to be 17. Thorne, who attended universities in Huddersfield and Hull, wore his army cadet uniform during one of his visits to see the girl, the court heard. Victim 'showed bravery' Prosecutor David Eager showed the court photographs of the girl, which he said had been taken around the period of the offences. He argued they clearly showed she was underage and not 17. Judge Hirst dismissed Thorne's claims on Friday at a Newton Hearing, which seeks to determine the facts of the case when there is conflicting evidence. Thorne was remanded into custody. Following the hearing, Det Con Victoria Oakes, of Lincolnshire Police, said she was "in awe of the victim". She said: "The bravery and courage they have displayed over the last year has been truly incredible and I hope that this result offers some sense of closure. "Thorne's actions are reprehensible and completely unacceptable in our society. His victim was clearly underage, and he knew that. "Instead, he chose to plead ignorance and I am glad that the judge dismissed his claims and will sentence him for his crimes in due course." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. More on this story Rape accused denies knowing girl was underage
